I still think Steve is not the ideal point guard for Yao Ming who needs an intelligent, visionary passer who can nail the open jump shot, but it's becoming obvious that despite his many shortcomings, Steve Francis has made a sincere effort to change under JVG's system and support Yao Ming as the central player. Does the Houston management, regardless of what happens during the remainder of the season, trade Steve Francis? During the Super-Bowl, I think many here (myself included)would've re-enacted the Boston Tea Party if Steve Francis wasn't traded, but I think many of us are suprisingly warming up to him. Despite his many faults, the guy has a lot of heart, and is becoming more loveable. Rationally, I still don't think Steve Francis is a natural point guard, but EMOTIONALLY, it'd be heartbreaking to trade a guy what loves being a Houston Rocket. Whether his personality changes are an enduring product of genuine maturity and growth or a cunning ploy to remain a Houston Rocket will be revealed by the passage of time. But right now I say we keep Steve Francis because he's shown he's sincerely trying.
There is no need to trade Steve, just move him to SG and bring in a big PG like Brent Barry who BTW is a FA this summer.
neither is Ray Allen - but the two pull it off fairly well (when they are healthy). I have said this before - I know SF3 has problems, but he is a good talent. Lebron James was playing the Point in Cleveland and doing well, but when they brought in McInnis, the whole team (including James) has excelled. We just need a good ball handler to get the ball downcourt to start the offense - we are not asking for a 5'11" career Point guard... hey if JJ could do it, let him be a point forward - just don't make Steve worry about the ball AND then try to break his man down. Let him get his in the flow - and I bet his numbers would actaully improve (again, see Lebron)
this maybe stupid, can we get bibby somehow? with or without SF, the team will looking good next season
Yes, SF is not having a good season. His shot is gone, his TOs have not been getting any better. But no one wants to win more than SF does. The guy puts out more effort than anyone else on the team. I'm not putting anyone else down, but SF shows the most heart on this team and is the happiest when we win and play well.
gucci, I'm willing to give Steve more time to adjust, but that has nothing to do with his "effort", or "heart". It has everything to do with his potential to work out along side of Yao. Most people here who want to trade Steve away don't believe he is capable of making adjustment, few has ever questioned his "effort", or "heart" here. This is a businese. You do everything to make your team better, even at the expense of trading away your most popular player. I just think there is some possibility that Steve will be able to adjust, and make the team better CONSISTENTLY.
a friend of mine mentioned bringing in the guard from st. jo's in a sign and trade w/ a lottery team..
Surely with all the SF bashing around here, you could fit this post in an exisiting thread rather than start the 2349558393th "trade SF" thread.
First we figure out our dysfunctinal PF spot... which is very important in the western conference. Then we worry about Steve... in that order.
I agree 100%...I think trading SF would be the stupidest thing we've done since trading all our 1st round picks for EG... All of the media frenzy is much ado about nothing...
Why? There's no reasoning here. I have yet to see anybody put together an argument that Yao and Steve are complementary. Why on earth wouldn't you want to trade him for equal talent that does complement Yao. Now, if you want to say we can't get equal value... that's a separate argument entirely. But what's innately wrong with ditching a player that doesn't remotely fit?
I think the argument has been put together by some people here before, it's just that "trade Steve" becomes such a fashion thing here that people just jump up and down whenever Steve had a bad game, or even a good game. The question I'd like to ask those who want to trade Steve is, how long do you think it will take to get the right players surround Yao, and wait for them to grow together? I don't think anyone in their right mind will expect that to happen within one or two years. How much time did Steve get to make that transition? Less than a year? Many here used the argument that Steve has been playing this way for his entire 5 years in the league, so he cannot adjust, or he is not capable of making that adjustment. But they forgot that Steve was rewarded the MAX contract two years ago, so the Rockets organization must think he was good enough to be the Franchise player for the team with the way he was playing. Last year was different since Yao was a rookie, we still played the same old way under Rudy. This year, JVG comes in with an entirely new approach & system, a defensive minded approach with slow structured offense, which is the opposite side of what Steve has been doing in his entire NBA career. Any reasonable people will give Steve, JVG, and the team more time to adjust. Can Steve make the adjustment, be a good complement to Yao? I don't know, but I sure hope he can. I don't think JVG knows it for sure. But you just don't jump into the conclusion after less than a year, you want to look at the willingness of the player to make that transition, give him time before make any conclusion. Of course, if JVG determine that Steve is not willing to make that transition, then all bets are off. But we just don't know that, right? The closest thing we have is a gossip started by "Dr Rocket" that his source overheard the complainging from an assistant coach, and the reaction from JVG. Heck, I'm sure JVG & his assists have made worse comments about Yao's often frustrated plays over the course of the season, but we all know that doesn't mean Yao is falling out his favor.
I think SF will be traded when his BOY expires (or whatever the hell you call it). I think a strong showing in the playoffs might change that though. It's really a mute point until Summer. Raven
Players don't need a season or two to adjust to a franchise player. That's just NOT true. A training camp and 30 games is more than enough. Look at JJ and Cat who have been well adjusted for a while now. Even MoT and Cato have adjusted quickly to the new system. Training camp, and 60+ games is more than enough to adjust. IT's TOO much in fact. Do you really think it will take Ray Allen or Brent Barry, for example, more than training camp, preseason and 20 games to adjust? I don't think you'd bet on it. It just doesn't take that kind of time to adjust to a new system. Summer, training camp, preseason, and 60 games...... If you ask me, Steve had his chance. He still has a chance if he carves himself a niche in this offense during the last 14 games and playoffs. great players blaze a trail for themselves, and it's time for Steve to do just that.
Steve's strengths are the areas where it would be okay for our PG to have weaknesses. Steve's weaknesses are in areas where it is important for our PG to have strengths. While it is possible that Steve will one day become a good passer and an excellent spot-up shooter, all while taking better care of the ball, I wouldn't bet on it. It would be much safer to trade Steve for someone who is already more compatible with the team, and that person need not be a point guard.
I don't think Yao really wants Steve Francis to be traded you know.....Yao probably wouldn't trade Francis for anybody... i'm against trading players. same players should stick on the same team if possible to build chemistry, have a chance to get know each other, and will work as a team better.
